🔎 Storm ChasingGrade 3Reading: grades 3-4AdditionRoundingSubtractionMultiplicationDivision
The Mystery of the Missing Anemometer
A massive supercell storm is approaching Tornado Alley, but someone stole the Master Anemometer from the Sky Lab! Help the Tornado Tracker Squad solve the math clues and unmask the culprit before the storm hits.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Vehicle | Storm Tool | Steering Hand | Headgear | Countermeasure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pecos Hank | Dominator Van | Wind Cannon | Left Handed | Red Cap | Loud Siren |
| Tim Samaras | Sky Chaser Jet | Hail Shield | Left Handed | Yellow Hood | Bright Flare |
| Josh Wurman | Sky Chaser Jet | Lightning Rod | Right Handed | Red Cap | Heavy Anchor |
| Jim Cantore | Dominator Van | Tornado Pod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Al Roker | Radar Buggy | Lightning Rod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Amy Freeze | Radar Buggy | Wind Cannon | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Mike Bettes | Dominator Van | Lightning Rod | Right Handed | Yellow Hood | Heavy Anchor |
| Sam Champion | Radar Buggy | Tornado Pod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Skip Talbot | Dominator Van | Wind Cannon | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Bright Flare |
| Ted Fujita | Dominator Van | Tornado Pod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Loud Siren |
| Ginger Zee | Radar Buggy | Hail Shield | Right Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Maria LaRosa | Hover Drone | Thermal Scanner | Left Handed | Silver Helmet | Loud Siren |
| David Fowler | Hover Drone | Tornado Pod | Left Handed | Silver Helmet | Loud Siren |
| Nick Wiltgen | Hover Drone | Tornado Pod | Right Handed | Yellow Hood | Loud Siren |
| Stephanie Abrams | Sky Chaser Jet | Thermal Scanner | Left Handed | Silver Helmet | Heavy Anchor |
| Chris Forbes | Dominator Van | Lightning Rod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Loud Siren |
| Laura Velasquez | Dominator Van | Hail Shield | Right Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
| Karen Wynne | Dominator Van | Thermal Scanner | Left Handed | Yellow Hood | Heavy Anchor |
| Jen Carfagno | Sky Chaser Jet | Tornado Pod | Left Handed | Red Cap | Loud Siren |
| Alex Wallace | Radar Buggy | Tornado Pod | Right Handed | Silver Helmet | Heavy Anchor |
| Kelly Cass | Dominator Van | Wind Cannon | Left Handed | Red Cap | Bright Flare |
Clue 1
Addition
We tallied all the storm probes gathered in the garage to unlock the first encrypted note.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
627
724
369
843
476
368
253
T
627
369
345
598
655
534
655
659
253
T
627
345
843
369
476
217
534
953
724
T
627
659
534
659
953
598
253
655
367 + 260 =T
276 + 448 =H
93 + 160 =O
197 + 171 =B
310 + 224 =I
524 + 429 =G
116 + 101 =L
191 + 178 =E
325 + 151 =A
184 + 161 =U
548 + 295 =S
218 + 437 =D
387 + 211 =R
274 + 385 =N
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Rounding
The storm radar screen rounds all wind speeds to the nearest ten to display quick readings.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
400
3000
6000
800
50
800
70
6000
200
T
400
50
800
6000
30
T
400
3000
6000
8000
90
7000
6000
600
T
400
3000
40
4000
30
T
400
2000
800
T
400
6000
6000
90
Round 435 to the nearest hundredT
Round 2,496 to the nearest thousandO
Round 6,142 to the nearest thousandE
Round 7,462 to the nearest thousandL
Round 577 to the nearest hundredF
Round 217 to the nearest hundredC
Round 28 to the nearest tenD
Round 2,584 to the nearest thousandH
Round 755 to the nearest hundredS
Round 7,830 to the nearest thousandI
Round 46 to the nearest tenU
Round 91 to the nearest tenR
Round 44 to the nearest tenA
Round 68 to the nearest tenP
Round 4,258 to the nearest thousandN
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
We subtracted the fuel spent from the total tank to figure out how far the escape vehicle went.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
760
734
750
299
642
805
131
557
489
A
760
750
331
734
489
299
536
735
331
735
131
805
331
841
805
A
760
235
331
750
1087 - 327 =A
654 - 12 =G
449 - 318 =T
1202 - 397 =H
535 - 46 =L
898 - 341 =F
651 - 352 =I
473 - 142 =E
706 - 170 =N
866 - 116 =R
477 - 242 =S
1055 - 321 =B
970 - 129 =C
1018 - 283 =D
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The weather probes were packed in neat equal rows inside the back of the chase truck.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
35
21
16
96
88
A
35
63
14
A
35
30
20
60
22
3
96
64
3
80
120
16
14
64
3
96
5 × 7 =A
4 × 4 =E
12 × 10 =H
8 × 12 =D
3 × 1 =N
4 × 5 =F
7 × 3 =R
5 × 12 =O
11 × 2 =U
2 × 7 =W
9 × 7 =P
8 × 8 =I
3 × 10 =S
8 × 11 =C
8 × 10 =T
0/15 letters found
Clue 5
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
We split the remaining walkie talkies equally among the search teams looking for clues.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
30 ÷ 3 = ?
30 ÷ 10 = ?
30 ÷ 5 = ?
11 ÷ 1 = ?
42 ÷ 6 = ?
44 ÷ 11 = ?
16 ÷ 2 = ?
96 ÷ 8 = ?
63 ÷ 7 = ?
24 ÷ 12 = ?
55 ÷ 11 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain drove the dominator van, then dropped a tornado pod.
2.The villain revved the radar buggy, then raised a hail shield.
3.The villain revved the radar buggy, then dropped a tornado pod.
4.The villain revved the radar buggy, then swept a thermal scanner.
5.The villain drove the dominator van, then plugged in a lightning rod.
6.The villain revved the radar buggy, then fired a wind cannon.
7.The villain piloted the sky chaser jet, then swept a thermal scanner.
8.The villain steered the scout truck, then swept a thermal scanner.
9.The villain flew the hover drone, then raised a hail shield.
10.The villain drove the dominator van, then fired a wind cannon.
11.The villain flew the hover drone, then plugged in a lightning rod.
12.The villain piloted the sky chaser jet, then plugged in a lightning rod.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Missing Anemometer
Culprit: Jim Cantore (Dominator Van · Tornado Pod · Left Handed · Red Cap · Bright Flare)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE SABOTEUR DID NOT USE A LIGHTNING ROD"367 + 260 = 627 (T) · 276 + 448 = 724 (H) · 93 + 160 = 253 (O) · 197 + 171 = 368 (B) · 310 + 224 = 534 (I) · 524 + 429 = 953 (G) · 116 + 101 = 217 (L) · 191 + 178 = 369 (E) · 325 + 151 = 476 (A) · 184 + 161 = 345 (U) · 548 + 295 = 843 (S) · 218 + 437 = 655 (D) · 387 + 211 = 598 (R) · 274 + 385 = 659 (N)
- Clue 2 (Rounding): "THE SUSPECT USED THEIR LEFT HAND TO STEER"Round 435 to the nearest hundred = 400 (T) · Round 2,496 to the nearest thousand = 2000 (O) · Round 6,142 to the nearest thousand = 6000 (E) · Round 7,462 to the nearest thousand = 7000 (L) · Round 577 to the nearest hundred = 600 (F) · Round 217 to the nearest hundred = 200 (C) · Round 28 to the nearest ten = 30 (D) · Round 2,584 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 755 to the nearest hundred = 800 (S) · Round 7,830 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (I) · Round 46 to the nearest ten = 50 (U) · Round 91 to the nearest ten = 90 (R) · Round 44 to the nearest ten = 40 (A) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (P) · Round 4,258 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (N)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "A BRIGHT FLARE BLINDED THE CHASER"1087 - 327 = 760 (A) · 654 - 12 = 642 (G) · 449 - 318 = 131 (T) · 1202 - 397 = 805 (H) · 535 - 46 = 489 (L) · 898 - 341 = 557 (F) · 651 - 352 = 299 (I) · 473 - 142 = 331 (E) · 706 - 170 = 536 (N) · 866 - 116 = 750 (R) · 477 - 242 = 235 (S) · 1055 - 321 = 734 (B) · 970 - 129 = 841 (C) · 1018 - 283 = 735 (D)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A RED CAP WAS FOUND IN THE WIND"5 × 7 = 35 (A) · 4 × 4 = 16 (E) · 12 × 10 = 120 (H) · 8 × 12 = 96 (D) · 3 × 1 = 3 (N) · 4 × 5 = 20 (F) · 7 × 3 = 21 (R) · 5 × 12 = 60 (O) · 11 × 2 = 22 (U) · 2 × 7 = 14 (W) · 9 × 7 = 63 (P) · 8 × 8 = 64 (I) · 3 × 10 = 30 (S) · 8 × 11 = 88 (C) · 8 × 10 = 80 (T)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 1) → Jim Cantore30 ÷ 3 = 10 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 30 ÷ 5 = 6 · 11 ÷ 1 = 11 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 44 ÷ 11 = 4 · 16 ÷ 2 = 8 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 63 ÷ 7 = 9 · 24 ÷ 12 = 2 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Rounding, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Anemometer — set in Tornado Alley Sky Lab
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects